S&S Book Club: Nancy Atherton’s Aunt Dimity’s Death
Tina, Lida and Jen chat about Carol’s pick: Nancy Atherton’s Aunt Dimity’s Death
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Why Carol Picked It
“When I learned of Aunt Dimity’s death, I was stunned. Not because she was dead, but because I had never known she’d been alive.”
With those first couple of chapter-one sentences, I was hooked. Aunt Dimity’s Death is absolutely delightful—beautifully written, fun, and imaginative—with characters that I enjoy spending time with.
Lori Shepherd is having a difficult time. After her divorce, she returns to Boston in search of her old job to find it’s no longer available. Struggling to find a place to live as well as new employment, Lori is notified that her mother has unexpectedly died. After the funeral, devastated and at an all-time low, Lori returns to Boston and slowly withdraws from life... until the day she receives a letter, summoning her to the reading of Aunt Dimity’s will.
Lori has only known of Aunt Dimity as a character in the stories her mother told her when she was a child. Now, she learns she’ll inherit a large estate if only she can uncover the secret hidden in dozens of letters stored in Aunt Dimity’s English cottage.
This fairy-tale-like mystery is charming on every level. There’s an enchanted location and a handsome prince. There’s a friendly ghost, who looks after Lori on her quest, and a magical pink bunny named Reginald.
I found this first book in the Aunt Dimity series immensely satisfying and entertaining, and I continue to read more installments. Try it. I think you’ll agree!
What Jen Thought
Aunt Dimity’s Death is comfort reading through and through. With a plucky heroine, gentle romantic tension, and a supporting cast of downright nice people, it was easy for me to pick up and put down as my time allowed.
As a reader, I always enjoy the fantasy of a surprise inheritance that suddenly changes the course of a well-deserving character’s life, as happens in this story. As a writer, I appreciate the efficiency of this tool, giving us characters who can be fish out of water, viewing the world of the story with the perspective of outsiders. Nancy Atherton pulls it off with grace, giving readers an American’s view into life in the English countryside and a glimpse into London life in World War II. Thank you, Carol, for suggesting this!
What Lida Thought
When I started reading Aunt Dimity’s Death, I wished I had someone sitting next to me that I could read the pages out loud to and who would love the story as much as I did. That’s how excited I was over the words and characters. The touch of magic is what I found highly appealing, as it reminded me of books I’d read as a youngster (for instance, Half-Magic and The Secret Garden).
The characters are well rounded, from the father-son legal duo to heroine Lori’s best friend, Meg; they are so deftly created that readers can’t help it - to know them is to like them. And who wouldn’t love to have a fairy godmother like Aunt Dimity or a friend who creates beautiful, cashmere-soft afghans? Throw in an English cottage and a ghost, and it’s a done deal.
I do have one small “but.” About 75 percent into the book, the story stalleda bit for me. The romantic tension had fizzled and the characters settled down a bit, making it less exciting for this reader. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable read. I wouldn’t have picked this up, but for Carol’s recommendation. Thank you, Carol!
What Tina Thought
Aunt Dimity’s Death is an enchanting and comforting read. Like Jen, I enjoyed slipping in and out of this light book. I had a nostalgic feeling when reading it. As Lida says, the story contains the same sense of wonder and charm as some of my favorite childhood reads but with a grown-up heroine handling adult problems. I am surprised that these books were never made into a TV series.
This is a slow-burning story - just my kind of read. In fact, as Lida says, it may be a tad too slow in certain parts. But when I wanted a relaxing diversion, I savored it in the evenings with a cup of tea. Thanks to Carol, I will be trying out a few more books in this series.
